Lurker needs help
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Lurker needs help
| Thu, 07-12-2007 - 4:22pm |
I mostly lurk here, but I now need some advice. My 13yo AS son has stopped eating!! He has never eaten well, but he has stopped eating other than about 2 bites at breakfast. He absolutely refuses to eat lunch or dinner. He now only weighs 74 pounds. He won't drink ensure or instant breakfast. I don't know what else to try...anyone have any ideas?
Jodi
Jodi

Jodi,
welcome out of lurkdom.
I have to ask the obvious question, although I'm sure you have covered this already: Have you taken him to th edoctor to be checked out? An illness such as
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Jodi
Hi,
Please take him to a doc. to rule out any GI issues. Other than that the only thing that I can think of is adding enzymes to the one meal and see if that helps with all other. ALso add some good probiotics. Is he regular? IF not magnesium (with calcium) can help him.
good luck,
Anandhi
Jodi
>>His doc wasn't concerned and said he will eat when he is hungry enough.<<
I'm sorry, but that is a total crock the doctor just handed you. It may be true of many
visit my blog at www.onesickmother.com
Although my ds is a HUGE over-eater (doesn't feel a "full" sensation, so is always hungry), he will NOT eat "if he's hungry enough" if his only options are food he does not think he can eat. We have tried this more than once in the past. He is not doing it to be willful but because he honestly doesn't believe he has a choice TO eat if the only options are things that are disagreeable to him. He truly doesn't see eating food he's disinterested in as a choice. I fully believe that he would starve himself to death before eating food he doesn't believe he can eat, so this is NOT a good marker for our AS kids.
My sister knew a mom of an older teen girl with sensory issues who STILL wouldn't eat almost anything. She'd walk around hungry all day wanting to eat something but couldn't find anything she believed she could eat. I don't know whether they ever found a solution, but it was a constant frustration to mom/teen 'cus she wasn't trying to not eat food, it's just that almost everything seemed inedible to her.
Has your ds indicated whether he finds food disagreeable or whether he just doesn't feel hungry so doesn't think he should eat, or what's holding him back from eating? Very obvious question, but has your ds offered any suggestions for helping himself? I liked Paula's idea of scheduled eating.
Sorry I don't have any ideas, but I did want to respond to the doc's comment about eating if he gets hungry enough. No, he most likely won't. You probably need to seek out a better doc &/or a nutritionist who can better guide you.
Jodi